Packers' D-Line says Peterson still the best RB

Green Bay -- These past couple days, they've praised Houston's Arian Foster. He's patient, they say. His vision may be the best in the NFL. But is Foster the best overall running back in the league?

The Green Bay Packers defensive linemen won't go that far.

“I don’t know about that. The best in the league? Nah. That’s tough," defensive end Ryan Pickett said. "There are a lot of good backs out there. It’s Adrian Peterson. Foster’s a good back, but they’re also in a good system. They have a good running system there. So it’s hard to compare him with somebody like A.P. where they run powers and stuff. (Houston) is zone. He’s good, but I don’t know. He’s not A.P.

“A.P. is a monster.”

Nose tackle B.J. Raji, who didn't practice again Thursday with an ankle injury, noted this week that the term "patience" is thrown around too much these days. But Foster, he says, is "the epitome of a patient back." Foster finds the weak link up front, he said, and cuts on a dime upfield.

But no, Raji continued, there isn't anybody in Peterson's class.

"Apart from Adrian, I think you can argue who's the second best," Raji said. "But I think Arian's right up there. Adrian is obviously in a completely different class."

Added defensive end C.J. Wilson, “We always say Adrian Peterson. Hands down, he’s always the best every year. Hands down. Arian Foster ranks in the next two or three for me.”

Foster broke onto the scene as an elite back almost immediately. Since coming on late his rookie year in 2009, the 6-foot-1, 228-pound undrafted back has rushed for 3,837 yards and 37 touchdowns in 41 total games. He's been the perfect fit for Houston's patient scheme -- and defenses can't necessarily load up to defend the run with quarterback Matt Schaub under center. Schaub has a 99.2 passer rating this season with 1,162 yards, eight touchdowns and only two interceptions.

If Raji -- Green Bay's 3-4 anchor -- is unable to play, then corralling Foster will be difficult.

“That’d be real tough without B.J.," Pickett said. "I don’t know what they’re saying or if he’ll be ready. But hopefully he’ll be ready to play. But if not, we’re going to have to do it. It’d definitely be a lot easier with him in there.”

Wilson said that rookie Mike Daniels will be playing a more prominent role if Raji cannot go. The Packers played a lot of nickel when Raji went down at Indianapolis. Against Houston's balanced offense, it remains to be seen how the Packers would counter.

"It’d be tough because a guy like B.J. is tough to replace," Wilson said. "He has great ability, experience and the leadership he brings to the D-Line is next to none. Hopefully he’ll be back Sunday. I don’t know his condition. All we have to do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

Either way, Foster is on deck.

Maybe he's not Peterson -- a Packer killer since 2007 -- but Foster is in the absolute prime of his career. Most important, he's in a system that plays to his strengths. Pickett says the Packers must stay disciplined in their gaps in preparation for Foster's cutbacks.

“He’s a lot different than a lot of backs," Pickett said. "He’s so patient sometimes it’s like he’s not running as hard. And then he finds a spot and waits for somebody to make a mistake and he’ll make you pay for making a mistake. He’s a real patient, gifted runner.

"You can stop him for three, two and then he’ll break off a 40-yard run. So that’s the hard part about playing this style offense. You stop the run, stop it and then one person gets out of their gap and he cuts back and gashes you for 30 yards. You just hate that.”

About Tyler Dunne

Tyler Dunne covers the Green Bay Packers. He has been on the beat since 2011, winning awards with the Pro Football Writers of America and Milwaukee Press Club.